Northside school’s Christmas cards spreading the cupla focal

A Northside primary school is spreading the cúpla focal and festive cheer with new Irish language Christmas cards designed by an award winning artist.

Gaelscoil Áine on Mobhi Road, hope their fundraising cards will encourage more use of Irish in homes this Christmas as well as bringing them some Yuletide joy.

“Wishing someone a happy Christmas by saying Nollaig Shona helps to keep the beautiful Irish language alive,” said Tarsila Krüse, a children’s book illustrator and parent at the new school who designed the cards.

“Irish language Christmas cards are usually hard to find and I wanted to create a variety that would look cheerful and festive and that would suit a wide variety of people.

Elia Perez Cox of Gaelscoil Aine, holding the fundraising Christmas cards the school are selling

“The cards are made to the highest standard of quality and include a cute fox and hare sitting under the stars on a log in the snow sharing a mug of hot chocolate.

“The cards cover different aspects of Irish culture at Christmas with elements that are both traditional and modern and that look and feel welcoming.

“We are selling them as a pack of ten cards for €10 to help Gaelscoil Áine raise funds for important resources at the school, though I also believe it is a sweet way to bring a little Irish into people’s lives.”

Gaelscooil Aine fundraising Irish language Christmas cards for sale to raise money for educational resourses

Tarsila, who is originally from Brazil and living in Dublin for almost 15 years, is a renowned artist and children’s book illustrator whose work includes the RTÉ Guide Christmas covers in both 2019 and 2020.

Her illustration work can also be found in books that include My Little Album of Ireland, Percy Péacóg and both award-winning Ná Gabh ar Scoil and CD-book Bliain na nAmhrán.

Gaelscoil Áine opened in September 2019 offering parents a new Irish-speaking co-educational school that is both multi-denominational and multilingual.

It is under the patronage of An Foras Patrúnachta, which is a management body founded in 1993 to promote education through the medium of Irish.

The school is temporarily located in the third-level Whitehall College building on Mobhi Road, Drumcondra, while it awaits an announcement from the Department of Education about a permanent location.

It currently has 70 pupils in junior, senior infants and first class and there is huge demand for places in the school. Under current plans, the school will increase each year to a total of eight classes.

All proceeds from the Gaelscoil Áine cartaí na nollaig go to the school to fund much needed educational resources, such as books and sports equipment.

The cards are available on Tarsila Krüse’s website tarsilakruse.com/shop/christmascards2021 and from the Gaelscoil Áine parent’s committee by emailing coistegaelscoilaine@gmail.com.

They are also on sale at the Búa coffee shop and Fringe Hairdressing on Mobhi Road and at Pinto Wines on Drumcondra Road Lower.